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Obama mourns Harold Ramis, hopes he 'received total consciousness'

Associated Press
8:27 a.m. CST February 25, 2014

NEW YORK - JUNE 15: Director Harold Ramis attends the Columbia Pictures world premiere of "Year One" at AMC Lincoln Square on June 15, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)(Photo: Bryan Bedder Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says the late actor and director Harold Ramis, a native of his hometown of Chicago, was one of America's "greatest satirists."

In a statement, the president recalled watching Ramis' iconic movies, including "Animal House" and "Ghostbusters." He says the movies didn't just make him "laugh until it hurt" but also made him question authority and root for the underdog.

In a nod to a frequently referenced line from Ramis' classic film "Caddyshack," Obama said his thoughts and prayers go out to those who hope Ramis "received total consciousness."

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The full statement can be below:

"Michelle and I were saddened to hear of the passing of Harold Ramis, one of America's greatest satirists, and like so many other comedic geniuses, a proud product of Chicago's Second City," the President said in the statement.

"When we watched his movies -- from 'Animal House' and 'Caddyshack' to 'Ghostbusters' and 'Groundhog Day' -- we didn't just laugh until it hurt. We questioned authority. We identified with the outsider. We rooted for the underdog. And through it all, we never lost our faith in happy endings.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Harold's wife, Erica, his children and grandchildren, and all those who loved him, who quote his work with abandon, and who hope that he received total consciousness."